How to Respond to a Recruiter on LinkedIn (With 15+ Examples)

Recruiters often use LinkedIn to find potential candidates. So if you ever receive a message from one, what should be your response?

Should you ignore them or respond promptly? Is it ok to reply to their offer even if you currently have a job?

According to experts, here are ways to respond to a recruiter on LinkedIn.

The candidates should reply confidently, naturally, honestly, and directly

I expect the candidates to reply to me confidently, naturally, honestly, and directly no matter which platform. I would suggest using customized templates for better-looking email responses.

I feel a candidate’s response to a recruiter depends on whether one is interested or not interested in the job or company. But remember to start with a “Thank you for reaching out with the great opportunity.”

If the candidate is interested, they should ask for more details and an interview

Related: How to Respond to a Recruiter Email If Interested

If the candidate is confused, they should mention that they’re open to discussing the opportunity

If the candidate is confused, they should be honest to accept that they are happy with the current job but would like to know about the opportunity offered.

If the candidate is not interested, send a clear but polite response

Lastly, I would conclude by saying that as an experienced recruiter, I feel the response helps create a first impression and starting point of the communication.

Connect with them with a personalized message about the role

Recruiters work with a sense of urgency, so responding right away is essential. Connect with them with a personalized message about the role.

Related: How to Respond to a Job Offer

If you’re interested in the opportunity

I would glance at the job description or go to the recruiter’s website and determine which job they had in mind by reaching me or the types of roles they generally recruit for.

In the subject line, I would reference the job position. You’d be astounded at how many people misspell names, so double-check!

I would express appreciation for reaching out with the opportunity, and I would include a little blurb addressing my qualifications in the job description. If I were given an email, I would respond with an email and LinkedIn.

I would finish the message by taking the conversation offline as quickly as possible for a meeting and providing a telephone number underneath my name.

Check and recheck, and as a side note, I will send a follow-up email in a few days.

“I’ve enjoyed chatting to people in XYZ’s company, and I like how it looks. I want to apply formally for this company’s open position..”

If you’re interested in the company, but not the role

If you’re on the fence

The value of recruiters is that they can make you aware of job opportunities that you would not otherwise have known about on your own.

As you progress in your career, recruiters can play a vital role in helping your advancement.

Therefore, it’s almost always a good idea to respond to a recruiter who has reached out to you proactively on Linkedin.

The times when you don’t need to answer are when the InMail is off-target. For example, you’re in marketing, and a recruiter contacts you for a role as a software engineer—a stupid error of automation.

Build good relations with recruiters for the long-term

Respond to recruiters who present you with appropriate opportunities. If you’re not interested in the specific job described, let the recruiter know in case they have other potential positions now or in the future.

The simple “no thank you” will suffice

“Hi Bob, thanks for contacting me re the Product Marketing role at XYZ. I’m not ready to make a move but appreciate your outreach.”

Look for the recruiter’s calendar link to self-schedule a call

If the job looks interesting, respond promptly, referencing the specific opportunity (recruiters work on multiple jobs, so make it easy for them to make the connection).

In their email signature, look for the recruiter’s calendar link to self-schedule a call or include your availability (and ideally add your resume) to your response.

Be a gracious and polite candidate to get better results

Recruiting is a tough job! Recruiters hear “no” and “go away” all day long. Because of all the rejection that comes with recruiting, gracious and polite candidates are super-appreciated.

You’ll get much better results by being that candidate who treated them with kindness.

Even if you’re not interested in the job you were contacted for, you might be the first person they call next time when the job is one you want.

LinkedIn, when used correctly, creates a win-win solution for both the candidate and the recruiter.

To best answer your question about how a candidate should respond to a recruiter on LinkedIn, I would like to provide my top two “dos” and “don’ts” when a recruiter reaches out:

Top Dos

Do respond as soon as possible

Like many other professionals, recruiters are usually under tight timelines to get the best talent for their clients. If you don’t respond within a couple of days of receiving the request, you may find that the position is no longer available.

Do respond to all the recruiter’s questions

For example, if they ask you for some available times and provide the best way to contact you, it’s much more efficient if you give that info right away in your response.

I can’t tell you how often people set up a date and time for the recruiter to contact them, but they don’t provide any contact details.

Then they don’t check their messages for days to see that the recruiter has been desperately trying to set up a call. It slows down the process and may exclude the candidate from the search.

Top Don’ts

Don’t ignore the request

Just respond that you’re not interested in the position. The reason is two-fold.

First, no one likes to be “ghosted,” and it shows a level of professionalism that you’re letting the recruiter know, “Hey, thanks for thinking of me, but I’m not interested in this position.”

Secondly, a recruiter may have a cap on the number of messages they can send out. Messages generally get credited back to the recruiter when someone responds.

So, if they don’t get a response, that limits the number of messages they can send until they are replenished. Again, it’s a matter of professional courtesy.

Don’t ask the recruiter to provide them with the client’s name, salary information, etc.

Don’t ask the recruiter to provide them with the client’s name, salary information, and a copy of the job description before you have a call with the recruiter.

This feels discourteous to a recruiter. A recruiter wants to build a rapport with the candidate before they provide all the information.

Further, many recruiters are paid on a contingent basis by the hiring company, so they don’t want the candidate applying directly to the hiring company, especially after they took the time to source the candidate and provide them with the opportunity details.

Similarly, a hiring company that has engaged a recruiter often does not want to have candidates contacting them directly outside of the process they have established with the recruiter.

When a recruiter has reached out to someone on LinkedIn, it is always a good idea to respond, whether the job is exciting and whether one is looking for a job.

The connections with people we make are among the most important assets we can have. And accordingly, it is always best to take the time and send a reply to the recruiter as soon as possible, whether interested or not.

And with email notifications that arrive on your phones in your pockets, there is no excuse to reply a couple of days late.

When you are interested ⁠— thank the recruiter for making contact

Thank the recruiter for making contact and ask them about the job role in more detail. You can even suggest scheduling a phone call to talk more in-depth about what they expect from you, which would help you make your final decision.

When you are not interested ⁠— apologize for having to decline their offer

It is also essential to reply even if you are not interested in the job. It is always good to stay on favorable terms with everyone, whether online or in person.

A proper response will also start by thanking them for considering you and would apologize for having to decline their offer as it isn’t a good time for you, but truly appreciate the opportunity.

It is crucial to avoid automated responses like replying with the “not interested” message.

The odds are high that, at some point, a recruiter will reach out to you on LinkedIn.

Of course, this is terrific news, and you should feel proud (of your accomplishments and pedigree).

So how does one reply to such a message?

It depends on your level of interest in the position

Well, it most strongly depends on your level of interest in the position. If you’re not interested, let them know as such.

You should customize your reply

On the other hand, you might be interested or open to new opportunities. Here is where you might ask for more information.

Depending on what the recruiter wrote, you might want to customize your reply, but the below is a good starting point for the conversation to the next step.

Make an excellent first impression on a person reaching out to you

Whether or not you’re interested in changing your current job, making an excellent first impression on a person reaching out to you with a job offer wouldn’t hurt.

Nowadays, job seekers have more control over their careers, and recruiters are eager to show what they have to offer.

There are two ways the conversation via LinkedIn can go. One if you’re interested in the offer and a second if you’d like to decline the offer politely. Let’s see them both:

Here are my best tips on how to respond to a recruiter on LinkedIn:

Do your research about the company and the role

You want to make sure that you’re familiar with the company and the role before you start talking to the recruiter. This research will be your key to responding to a recruiter on LinkedIn in a way that shows you’re a good fit for the company.

Get an understanding of what they do

It’s essential to have a clear understanding of what the company does before you start talking to the recruiter. This way, you can express your interest in the role and the company to show you understand their business.

Express your interest in the role

Once you’ve done your research, you can express your interest in the role by talking about why you’re a good fit for the job. This is where your research will come in handy.

When you’re expressing your interest in the role, mention what you like about the company and why you think you’d be a good fit for the job.

Ask questions about the role and the company

When you’re talking to the recruiter, be sure to ask questions about the role and the company. This will show that you’re interested in the job and willing to learn more about the company.

You can also ask questions about the recruiting process, such as how long it will take or the next steps.

You should reply to it aptly and should not delay the process

When you receive a note from a recruiter on LinkedIn, you should reply to it aptly and should not delay the process because the recruiter might receive replies from other candidates that they have sourced.

Start with a thank you note

When you are writing your reply, make sure you start with a thank you note because that would give the impression that you value the recruiter’s time and their offer of an opportunity.

Moreover, you should mention something about the company they approached you from, e.g., “I have heard great things about the work culture at XYV Company and have read about your recent achievements.”

Politely ask them to explain more about their company

This makes the recruiter think that you are interested in their company. In case you have never heard about their organization, you should politely ask them to explain more about the company and give you details regarding the job description.

Include your contact details, such as email and contact number

Lastly, it is imperative to include your contact details, such as email and contact number, so that they can reach out to you for a detailed discussion. This would also avoid the unnecessary back and forth of them asking you for details again.

Take a moment to go through the recruiter’s profile

LinkedIn is one of the best platforms where recruiters look for great talents for recruitment. When a recruiter reaches out to you on LinkedIn, how you respond to them depends on your availability for their offer.

If you are interested in the offer or not, it is ideal that you respond professionally and make a good impression. How you respond to a recruiter speaks volumes about your personality.

Before responding to a recruiter, take a moment to go through their profile and have some information about them.

Provide necessary details in the reply

When a recruiter messages you on Linkedin, and you’re interested in the opportunity.

Avoid back and forth messages and be transparent with communication

The goal is to avoid back and forth messages and be transparent with communication. Often, these messages can get lost in people’s inboxes, so scheduling a call within the first couple of notes is more efficient.

If you happen to have a Calendly link, that is the best thing to send over as it shows you are serious about the opportunity and ready to learn more about the role.

Extend your utmost professionalism

First and foremost, extend your utmost professionalism. One mistake people tend to make on LinkedIn is considering it a similar platform to Facebook or Instagram.

They end up using overly casual slang or greetings which is almost always too early a way in which to speak to a recruiter. This can also give them a feeling you are not too serious about your potential application for their recruiting role.

Don’t be too desperate

Secondly, you also want to keep in mind not sounding too desperate. Recruiters will want to see your passion for a job opportunity and want to see you stand your ground in the negotiation process.

Agreeing to every clause they mention and their terms and conditions is not the best idea. You should be able to contend with them respectfully.

Don’t get ahead of yourself

Moreover, do not get too carried away. Potential candidates often adopt a tone of the conversation that almost makes them come across as certain to be favorites for a role.

Recruiters have likely engaged with multiple potential employees at that moment in time. They want to see a relatively more humble approach being adopted by you.

Appreciate the fact they reached out to you

In addition, do not let the conversation wane away without letting your recruiter know you appreciate the fact they reached out to you. Adopting a humble and grateful approach might set you apart and make them more inclined to reach out to you again.

Ask questions and be curious

Lastly, you should keep in mind questions to ask them as your conversation goes on. Recruiters appreciate curious candidates and form the impression that they are willing and passionate about the role once they receive queries.

Respond swiftly and professionally if you’re interested in the position

Respond swiftly and professionally if you’re interested in the position. Your recruiter will want to get to know you to see whether you’re a good fit for the organization, so you can set up an initial interview to learn more about the position and ask questions.

It’s always a good idea to get back to any message from a potential employer as soon as possible, regardless of whether you’re ready to look for a new position.

If you’re looking for a new job, you’ll want to know exactly what to say to a recruiter, no matter how enthusiastic you are about the position.

Start your message with gratitude

If you find yourself being contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIn, the best way to respond is to start your message with gratitude.

You only have one chance to make a good impression in such situations, so you should drop the typical “suit and tie” messages and focus on being human and friendly to create fluid conversation.

This means ensuring that your reply shows gratitude and is upbeat, curious, as well as assertive, as it often pays to show them that you are ready to take action on the next steps, which should improve your chances of securing a job or, at the very least, get better acquainted with them for other future opportunities.

Include a brief message with your connection request

As an expert, I advise you to include a brief message with your connection request. When contacting recruiters via LinkedIn, including a personalized message will result in a significantly higher acceptance rate.

The message can be very straightforward, such as simply providing your introduction. When the recruiter accepts your acceptance request, send him a follow-up message—express gratitude for accepting your request.

Your message should be concise and focused on a single objective

Inform them of your interest in the position they are offering and how you can contribute to the company for which they are hiring. Your message should be concise and focused on a single objective. Please include your resume.

Schedule a follow-up conversation

When recruiters reach out to potential candidates, the standard practice is to give a brief description of the job and let the candidate know that they may be a good fit for the role.

Recruiters will also offer to explain the job further if the candidate has any questions before they apply. This is an excellent opportunity to take. Many candidates will either reject or apply for the position right away.

But you can save yourself a lot of time by having a brief conversation with the recruiter. Recruiter descriptions and even job descriptions don’t always include all of the job expectations.

The best way to decide if a job is right for you is to read the job description and then have a conversation with the recruiter where you discuss any questions you have.

Remember to be polite and open with appreciation

Whether the position being offered to you is suitable or not, you should always begin by thanking the recruiter for contacting you and considering you for the role they are attempting to fill.

It is both courteous and professional to do so. It establishes a positive impression of your character, which you may then leverage in the future.

If you are not interested in the position, politely refusing the offer will make it easy to contact the recruiter if your mind changes or you need a new job.

Examine the recruiter

The first item on your list should be to establish the recruiter’s credibility. A good response will be wasted if you discover that the recruiter was not being truthful about the position they are proposing or if the organization they work for is not a good fit for you.

Examine the message to see if it was personalized and targeted for you. Some recruiters send out generic messages to ideal candidates to fill positions quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions